FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2023
PHRC to hold an investigative public hearing in Hazleton next month
Harrisburg, PA- The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC), the commonwealth's leading social justice and civil rights enforcement agency, is holding an investigative public hearing in Hazleton from 9:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at the Hazleton One Community Center, 225 E. 4th Street, Hazleton, PA 18201.
Members of the public who feel they have been discriminated against are encouraged to attend the hearing and share their stories of discrimination. Spanish interpretation services will be available. We also invite public entities to attend the hearing to discuss issues and concerns they are seeing.
As stated in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the PHRC has the authority to hold investigate hearings related to allegations of unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodation (which includes government services). "The purpose of the hearing shall be to resolve the problem promptly by the gathering of all the facts from all the interested parties and making such recommendations as may be necessary. The Commission shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity. The testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and be transcribed. Should the recommendations of the Commission not be accepted within a reasonable time the Commission may, with the consent of eight members, on its own behalf initiate a complaint and the hearing findings and Commission order shall proceed the same as where a complaint has been filed."
Because of various PHRC and federal regulations, the PHRC is only able to review allegations of discrimination that occurred in the previous six months. Please make sure you can speak to a specific harm and can include the date it happened. If the discrimination took place more than six months, but less than one year ago, or if you have questions about the hearing, please call (717) 787-4410 or email PHRC@pa.gov.
Anyone who plans on attending the public hearing and needs an accommodation, like ASL services, etc., please contact Amanda Brothman, ambrothman@pa.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Amanda Brothman, Director of Communications
Ambrothman@pa.gov
717.856.5971
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